Lion cubs, listen to me! Do you know why your mother sometimes says you are weeping crocodile tears? That is because she knows that you are only pretending to be hurt to get her sympathy. And why crocodile tears? Well, let me tell you a story... —Rafiki

Synopsis

While lying on the bank of a river, a crocodile bemoans his terrible toothache and begs the other animals to help him remove a piece of meat that is stuck between his teeth. A nearby buck sympathizes with the crocodile, but his older brother warns him not to fall for the predator's slippery tricks, and the two leave to graze elsewhere.

After the departure of the bucks, Crocodile opens his mouth to prove that a piece of meat is stuck between his teeth. He attempts to draw a warthog closer, but the warthog wisely stomps off in the direction of food.

At last, Crocodile stumbles upon a plover bird, who agrees to remove the meat. Crocodile opens his mouth for the bird, but before he can clamp it shut, the plover darts in and out, the meat in his beak. As Crocodile watches in consternation, the plover begins to eat the meat, laughing that Crocodile is simply too slow for him. He then volunteers to help clean the crocodile's mouth, so long as he does not attempt to eat him.